G'day! Pull up a chair! Join me at the kitchen table for a chat...let's toss a few thoughts around about the state of this crazy but wonderful world we inhabit. There's lots to discuss! Make yourself comfortable! Would you like a glass of wine?

Monday, August 20, 2007

Quick! Duck! Or Go As The Crow Flies!

I'm going to apply to whomever one should apply to, to get funding for research! In the weekend papers I read about a research being done in Britain and New Zealand using crows as the subjects, to discover the depth of the crows' intelligence. I could have told the university scientists for half the price!

I was readying myself to return to work for the evening shift one afternoon, when I was living and working in Gympie before my move to Mount Tamborine. Any meat scraps from the restaurant kitchen in which I cooked, I'd bring home for my family of free, native birds. My backyard soon became the neighbourhood eatery for kookaburras, magpies, butcher-birds and, of course, a couple of crows stood by as sentries. Glancing out my bathroom window this particular afternoon, I noticed a crow swoop down to scoop up a huge bundle of meat in its beak.

I called out to him, "You're being greedy! You'll never get off the ground with that load!"

Ignoring my words, of course, to my surprise he cruised to the boundary fence where he proceeded to bury his load, covering it over with some dead grass. He then flew back, picked up more meat in his beak and flew off to wherever his home was, no doubt to feed its young. The crow obviously buried the meat for safe-keeping and it would come back for it at a later time....amazing nature. That was pretty smart, cluey thinking, I thought.

On the subject of food, I'm having a couple of friends over for lunch this Saturday week. I'm planning to serve Prawn and Avocado Salad as an entree, to be followed by honey/soy/hoisin duck. I've not decided on the dessert as yet. I've still time up my sleeve to come up with an idea or two.

Make sure shrimp is completely unfrozen, if you buy it already cooked, and patted dry with paper towels.Assemble all ingredients with shrimp in a bowl except lettuce and mix. For optimum flavor, marinate in refrigerator for 15 minutes or more. It is still very good served right away if you don't have the time. Serve on bed of chopped romaine lettuce.Serves 4

Soy, Hoisin, Honey Duck

Combine soy sauce, hoisin sauce, brown sugar, crushed garlic and some Chinese Five-Spice powder in a jug. Stir until well combined. Place a duck in a large bowl and pour over the soy mixture. Cover and marinate in fridge, preferably overnight.

Pre-heat oven to around 200C. Place drained duck, breast side down on rack in baking dish, reserving marinade. Place marinade in a small saucepan and bring to the boil over med-high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat and set aside for 5 minutes to cool slightly. Place 2 6cm cinnamon sticks in duck cavity. Brush the duck evenly with the marinade. Cook in pre-heated oven for 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 180C. Turn duck over and sprinkle breast evenly with salt. Cook, brushing occasionally with the pan juices, for a further 55 minutes or until the juices run clear when the thigh is pierced with a skewer.

Last night I finished my comment to you with "now I've got to send this comment before the thunderstorm that is approaching covers up the satellite connection." guess what... it was too late.So, The crow sounds like a smart one OR maybe he was affraid it would begin to smell the place up if it layed in the open too long.And about your food, when a house becomes available in our neighborhood I'll let you know. We'll move you in and can call Marilyn and I over for dinner and you won't have to describe it to me over the net. Another mouth watering blog Lee.

I love crows and ravens, too, jmb...they're a very intelligent bird. They are much maligned by many but they only do what comes natural to them. I have a couple that hang around here and they have very good manners. :)

Yesterday I heard about a research study that had concluded that people with breathing difficulties who got to the hospital quickly did better than those that didn't get to the hospital quickly. And people get paid to find that out!!!

I read somewhere that crows are among the smartest of birds. They're seldom fooled by scarecrows. But I saw a hawk recently fly off with a crow in its grasp just recently in our subdivision. So they may be quick mentally, but not so quick otherwise.

Hi Dave...well, up against a hawk or eagle, I guess the former two would have the upper hand (or wing)...but crows are pretty canny and pretty quick. When have you ever seen a crow as 'road-kill'...they move pretty quickly if a human approaches them bearing a weapon. A crow wouldn't be a hunters favourite prey. ;)

You are a breath of fresh air!I have added a link to your Blog for my quickly growing family of kids, grand kids great grand kids and all my cousins and their families.williebill72, williebill73 and williebill74. (blogs)Don't be so hard on yourself sometimes. "every day above ground is a wonderful day" My GGGfather!Bill

This all sounds so good! The only time I tried to fix duck, about 30 years ago, it was so fatty. I ordered a turducken for Christmas once. A turky stuffed with a duck, stuffed with cajun spices. My entire extended family hated it.

Lee, Crow tastes awful, believe me.When I took survival training they warned us not to eat crow unless it was a life or death situation. I believe the experts. That is where the " you will eat crow" saying came from many years ago.

On the subject of crows, my Dad told us about a pet crow his family had while he was growing up. He claimed it was smarter than his hounds. It would wait on the window sill, looking inside at dinnertime. When someone walked toward the door, the crow would see if they were carrying leftovers. If so, it would fly over and get the dogs all riled up and fly around the yard, then back to the front door to get first dibs on the treats. He said that the dogs never figured it out, although they did catch him (her) a couple of times.

The dogs never did bite to kill, and the crow complained for an hour or so about the hound dog slobber. Absolutely cracked me up to hear him tell it.

I think crows are very intelligent birds and also rather handsome, too. I can't understand how some people hate them so much...I think they must be afraid of something in their own psyches...or something.

I'm not a fan of duck, I'll eat chicken and a little bit of turkey, but that's it. As for prawns...well, that's a different matter entirely...I loooooove prawns, actually I love most seafod.

Your friends are certainly lucky to have you as a friend, Lee. All those lovely meals...

Hi Lee ~~ I hope you and your friends enjoy your Saturday lunch. I had anexperience with a crow years ago when I was driving - there was a dead crow on the road and his mate I presume,standing by. I hate crows with a passion, but thought -well he is upset about his mate - but MO - hewas eating it. I know they are scavengers, but they peck the eyes out of lambing ewes and take smallchickens. Thanks for your comments and sympathy on the loss of my friend. Take care, Lee,Love, Merle.